Devices for playing card games with balls



0a. 22, 1957 J. J. HICKEY 2,810,579

DEVICES FOR PLAYING CARD GAMES WITH BALLS Filed March 12, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet l F 2 21/2 I fl Z6 /0 27 Oct. 22, 1957 J./ J. HICKEY2,810,579

DEVICES FOR PLAYING CARD GAMES WITH BALLS Filed March 12, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTOQ/Vf Y9 Oct. 22, 1957 J. J. HICKEY 2,810,579

DEVICES FOR PLAYING CARD GAMES WITH BALLS Filed March 12, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 5 WE/V702 JOHN HlCK'Y .F'gtB W Oct. 22, 1957 J. J. HICKEY2,810,579

DEVICES FOR PLAYING CARD ems WITH BALLS Filed March 12, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 4 //vI /Nro2 JOHN J. H/CKEY i -14 BY M ATTORNEY-5 UnitedStates Patent DEVICES FOR PLAYING CARD GAMES WITH BALLS John J. Hickey,Belleville, N. J.

Application March 12, 1954, Serial No. 415,907

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-148) This invention relates to games and moreparticularly to improvements in devices designed to utilize small ballsin lieu of playing cards for the playing of games that customarily areplayed with decks of fifty-two playing cards and disclosed in applicantsPatent No. 2,334,092, issued November 9, 1943; Patent No. 2,334,093,issued November 9, 1943; and Patent No. 2,383,860, issued August 28,1945.

The aforementioned patents disclosed devices wherein space requirementswere no particular object, that is the entire top of a table might bedevoted to the device or the device provided with legs in the manner ofa table. A simplified portable device was described in applicants PatentNo. 2,555,132, issued May 29, 1951, wherein a revolving drum equippedwith a stationary counting trough in coaction withthe drum selects anumber of'balls from a mixed 'mass and deposits the same on a switch boxfor allocation to a display box for exposed hands, to box pockets forconcealed hands, or back into the mixing drum. It was subsequently foundthat the counting trough, switch box, display box, and box pockets couldbe materially improved and simplified for the greater'convenience of theplayers 'who may have crippled arms or fingers, amputated upper limbs,broken bones, or other physical ailments.

The present application shows a device somewhat similar to thatdisclosedin the abandoned application Ser. No. 83,173, filed March 24,1949.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a small and readilytransportable device of the type described wherein noise has beensubstantially reduced compared with known types.

A further object is to provide a device reasonably free from detachableparts so frequently the subject of loss and further free fromprotuberances that might impede the handicapped players whentransporting the device.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a device inwhich a face down or concealed ball dealt to a player can be maintainedconcealed at the will of the player.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of these objectives, one form of the device isconstituted of a housing wherein a rotatably mounted drum, equipped witha rotatable counting trough, first mixes and then delivers five balls ofthe mixed mass to a nivotally mounted channeled switch box for servingto the players on a channeled display box for exposed hands, in elbowpockets for concealed hands, or back into the mixing drum. In anotherform, the device diifers from that previously mentioned in the design ofthe counting trough of the mixing drum and in the switch box for servingthe balls. A third type of switch box has also been perfected and whichmay be used in place of the switch boxes utilized in the first'twoforms. Thus, by providing in each form of the device asubstantially'noiseless counting trough; a display box and switch boxesof unique design; elbow boxes which releasablysecureconice cealed balls,and so arranging the manipulation of the mixing drum that the operationthereof may be as readily performed by the handicapped as the normalperson, subject devices are distinguishable from known similar devicesand capable of bringing the stimulation of card games to an even greaternumber with greater ease than heretofore possible.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsshowing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 through 7 show one formof the device for playing with ballsgames usually employing playing cards, constructed in accordance withthe principles of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 but with thecover removed and on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing thedevice with the counting trough in the deliveryposition.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the device shown in Figure 5 but withthe countingtrough in the receiving position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view of-the device shown in Figure 3but-enlarged the more clearly to show the switch box handle mechanism.

Figures 8 through 10 show another form of the device and in which:

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch box on an enlargedscale and with the counting trough in the delivery position.

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line 99 of Figure 8. V

Figure 10 is a sectional view .of the mixing .drum with the countingtrough-in the receivingposition.

Figures 11 through 14 showa third formof the-switch box, in which:

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch box.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch boxshown inFigure 11 in position for the delivery of the balls-for the exposedhands.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch box shown inFigure 11 in position for the return of the balls to the mixing drum.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch box shown inFigure 11 in position for the delivery of the'balls for the concealedhands.

Referring nowin greater detail to the form of the device shown inFigures 1 through 7 wherelike reference numerals indicate like parts,reference numeral 10 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) indicates the device, 11 (Figs.Sand 6) the balls, 12 (Figs. 4, 5, and 6) the revolving mixing drum, 13(Figs. 4, 5, and 6) the counting trough, 14, (Figs. .4 and 5) the switchbox, 15 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.) the switch box, 15 (Figs. '1, '2, 3,4, and 5) the display box, and 16 (Figs. 1 and 5) the elbow pockets.

The device10 is constituted of a housingformed with the spaced parallelside members 17 and 18 which have a cut out portion in one corner alongthe lines '19 and 20 as shown in Figure 3, the linel'9 being inclineddownwardly and outwardly; a back member 21 spaced parallel topthe frontsupports '22 and 23 (Fig. 1); a base'member 24 (Figs. 1 and 3);anda'cover-member '25 (Figs. '2 and 3). Any suitable means may be usedfor securing the-various members along corresponding edges while thecover member is hingedly attached by any known hinge means 26 and 27(Fig. 2) and releasably held in position by the catch 28 (Fig. 3).Except for the front supports 22 and 23 the remainder of the dual planefront is open and designed for the insertion of the display box 15 Fig.l) and the elbow pockets 16 at the base, both the display box and theelbow pockets being described infra.

At the back of the housing is the revolving mixing drum 12 (Figs. 4, 5,and 6) with spaced parallel side members, a rim member 29 (Figs. 5 and6) through which there is an opening 30 (Figs. 5 and 6) leading to theinterior of the drum 12. The rim 29 has a flattened portion 33 (Fig. 6)on one side of the opening 30 and an inwardly directed member 31integrally formed with or otherwise attached thereto, which extendstransversely of the drum 12 and forms with a coacting member 32 a partof a bafiie system for mixing the balls 11 when the drum 12 is rotatedabout the support 34 in one side of the housing and a similar support inthe opposite side (not shown). One end of one of the supports 34 may befastened to the side of the drum and formed with a groove 35 (Fig. 3) inthe end protruding through the side of the housing for the releasableinsertion of the handle member 36. By using the grooved slot 35 othermeans may be used for rotating the drum 12, and based upon theparticular requirements of the handicapped person or persons for whomthe device is intended.

Transversely and rotatably disposed in the revolving mixing drum 12 isthe counting trough 13 in a position relative to the opening 30, asshown in Figures 5 and 6. The trough 13 is formed of a casing having alongitudinal opening 38 (Fig. 5), and may be constituted of alongitudinal strip of brass 37a or other heavy material at the bottomand a similar strip of aluminum 37b or other light material thereaboveto provide the important difference in weight which motivates therotations of the trough 13 in conjunction with the revolutions of thedrum 12. The trough 13 is divided into five compartments or stalls 41,42, 43, 44, and (Fig. 4) by similar spacers 46 of any suitable material.Coacting with the counting trough 13 is the platform 47 transverselydisposed in the drum 12 and the platform 48 which is divided into fivelongitudinal runways aligned with the stalls 41 through 45 of the trough13 in the up position as shown in Figure 4.

At the opposite end of the housing and between the spaced parallel sidemembers 17 and 18 and normally downwardly inclined is the display box 15pivotally secured in the sides of the housing by any known means 53(Fig. 5). The display box 15 is constituted of the upper deck 54 dividedinto five longitudinal channels 55, 56, 57, 58, and 59 (Fig. 2) whichare aligned with the previously mentioned stalls 41 through 45 (Fig. 4)of the trough 13. The display box 15 is further constituted of a lowerdeck 60 similarly divided into channels but terminating at the front atthe point 61 (Fig. 5) which provides a transverse opening of sufiicientwidth to permit the balls 11 to enter the later described elbow pockets16. Pivotally connected to the sides of the display box 15 is a retainer62 which serves as a gate for the balls 11 in coaction with a catch 63.If desired,.the member 37 may be of sutlicient length and so attached tothe display box 15 as to coact with the protuberance 37g on the drum 12.

Aligned with the opening at the front of the lower deck 60 of thedisplay box 15 are five L-shap'ed or elbow pockets 16 slidably insertedin the front of the housing as most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5.Coacting with the inwardly directed end of each box 16 is a springmember 65 (Fig. 5) hingedly attached to any suitable rod 66 disposedbetween thesides of the housing and placed under downwardly exertedtension by coaction with a transversely disposed member 67 as shown inFigure 5.

Between the channeled drum platform 48 of the drum 12 in the deliveryposition and the channeled decks of the display box 15 is a switch box14 pivotally secured between the spaced sides of the housing by anysuitable means 68 so that the same may be rotated downwardly to thefirst dotted position shown in Figure 5 when the channels of the lowerdeck of the display box 15 will be aligned with similar channels of theswitch box 14. When the switch box 14 is rotated downwardly to thesecond dotted position shown in Figure 5, the balls 11 rolling down thedrum platform 48 will fall upon the casing platform 64 and be directedthrough the opening 30 into the drum 12.

The manipulation of the switch box 14- is attained by a dealing levercomposed of a hollow coil spring 69 (Fig. 5), one end of which isattached to the inner surface of the housing. In the free end of thespring 69 is a handle member 70 (Fig. 7) which slides over a guide 71secured in a slot formed in the side of the housing, the guide havingalong the lower edge the notches 71a, 72, and 73. The handle member 70also passes through a coacting slot in an upright member 74 attached tothe top of the switch box 14, the planes of the member 74 and the sideof the housing being parallel. The spring 69 is set to exert adownwardly exerted pressure on the handle member 70 by either theinfluence of gravity on the free end of the spring and the partiallyinserted handle member or by inserting the inner end of the spring inthe wall of the housing at a downwardly directed angle. Of course, the

same result can be attained by other means. When used in dealing, therod may be drawn or projected approximately one or two inches out of thespring and having to furnish a convenient grip while at other times thehandle member'70 may be readily retracted into the spring 69 whicheliminates any projection from the housing.

The operation of the device of the first form is as follows:

Suppose five players are grouped around the device for the game of studpoker which with a deck of playing cards consists in dealing one facedown or concealed card to each of the players followed by the dealing offour face up cards; each of the five players selects one of the numberedchannels 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (Fig. l) of the display box 15 and at the sametime the correlated elbow box 16 directly thereunder. Of course, theplaying capacity of the device could be increased but the capacity ofthe five channel device described can be reduced at will. For example,an oversize soft ball may be inserted in any or more of the fivecompartments or stalls 41 through 45 of the counting trough 13 whichwill reduce the ball dealing capacity of the device. Fifty-two smallballs 11 in lieu of playing cards, the balls being painted black torepresent spades, blue for clubs, red for hearts, and white for diamondsand bearing the customary markings and insignia of playing cards areinserted in the drum 12 through the opening 30 after the drum 12 hasbeen rotated to the position shown in Figure 5 and the display box 15pivoted downwardly to the lower dotted position shown in Figure 5.Access to the interior of the drum 12' may also be had by rotating theopening 36 (Fig. 5) clockwise until it is under the cover member 25which may be rotated upwardly for the insertion of the balls 11.Alternate counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of the drum 12 betweenthe limits of the stops 49 and 51.will mix the balls, in the downposition of the counting trough 13 (Fig. 6), the platforms 47 and 48will segregate five balls of the mixed mass into the stalls 41 through45 of the trough. As the drum 12 is rotated counterclockwise from theposition shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 5, the rotatabletrough 13 will revolve slightly clockwise. When the position shown bythe solid lines of the trough in Figure 5 is reached the impact of thecoacting stops 49 and 52 of the housing and.drum,'respectively, will,.asa' componentof the shuffling or mixing, discharge the contents of .thetrough, in the lower position of the switch box 14, back into the agetogs'zo drum; in the second dotted position 'of the switch box '14, intothe elbowpockets 16 via the'lower d'eck 60; *and in the upper positionof the switch box14 out of the upper deck of the display box -15 aidedby the outward and downward inclination of the "various members. When,as stated, trough 13 is moved to its upper, solid line, position asshown in Fig. 5, the trough willhave rotated so that its open side facesconveyor 48. Theimpact between the fixed stop 49 and the movable stop'52 on the drum 12, which stops the drum'quickly, will function to slingball 11 out of the trough and out of the conveyor, due to the momentumattained by the ball during rotation of drum 12. This discharge isaccomplished by moving the dealing lever 70 into the desiredde'aling'position. Since in stud poker, the 'first card may be served face downor concealed, the balls 11 rolling down the drum platform 48 must bedirected for concealment to the elbow pockets 16, so that the handlemember 70 (Fig. 7) is placed in the central notch 72jwhich'aligns thechanneled platform of the switch box '14 with the entrance to thesimilarly channeled second deck 60 6f the display box 15. On the deck60, the balls 11 roll threalong by gravity and thence through thetransverse opening at the 'front into the open tops of the'elbow pockets"16ialigried therewith. Next, exposed balls must be dealt'to'e'ach'player. Hence, the operator moves thehandle"member 70 totheslot 73 (Fig. 7) whereupon the channels of the switch box 15 will be inalignment with the 'channels of the upper leck 54 of the display box 15.When the drum 12 is revolved from the position shown in Figure to thatshown in Figure 6, the trough 13will'turn in'the opposite direction toassume'the position shown'by thesolid lines in Figure 6 so that up tofive oftheballs iemaining in the drum will be entrapped in the'countingti'ough, as previously shown, and automatically delivered to thecontestants in the manner previously described. At the close of eachround of the play, the outer end of the display box 15 is tilted abovethe pivot po ints53 to the dotted position shown in Figure 5, so thattheballs 11 will roll downwardly to be directed through the opening '39back into the drum 12forarioth'e'r ronnd. Of course, the concealed ballsin the elbow pockets 'lfiare' notfor' the immediate inspection of anybut theplayer' to whom it has been allotted and by permitting'th'e ballto roll into the L--shaped end it is substantially out of sight at thewill of the player. The catch 75 'in the elbow pockets 16 is so designedand pivotally atta'chedbythe pin 76 that it will automatically turn andblock the 'path of exit of the ball 11 out of the top when the pocket isinverted unless manually restrained so that the accid'entalloss of aball during a game is very remote.

In the second form of the device shown in "Figures 8 through 10, whichis chiefly distinguishable from the device previously described in thecounting trough and switch box, reference numeral "80 indicate'sth'ecounting trough and 81 the switch box.

The counting trough '80 is formed with 'a longitudinally disposed andstationary compartment 82 divided into five stalls by any suitableseparators and aligned with the runways of the display box 83 which issimilar to'thedisplay box of the first form. In front of'the trough '80,as viewed in Figure 9, is a pivotally mounted platform 84 having theupper surface divided into five runways aligned with the stalls of thecompartment '82. Any known means 85 may be used for pivotallystip'po'rti'ng'the L- shapec platform 84 transverselybetween'the'sideinernbers of the drum but it will be noted that the pivotal support isalong the member 87. At the b'ottom of the same member 87 is a weightedmember 88'which may be attached as desired. Withtliisc'onstruc'tiomandwhen the counting trough 80 assu'm'esthe position shown-in Figure 10,the platform 84 will "rotate downwardly as shown opening the stalls ofthe compartment 82th the mixed balls '11 one of each of which will'enterthe same. With the design described, a delayed closing*actionbfitheplatform 84 has been attained from the position shown inFigure 10 to that shown in Figure 9 and the platform 84 further has atendency to'close the gap between-the floors of the stalls of thecompartment 82 and theplatform '84 when in the up position. Thealignment ofthe-floors may be regulated by the stop 86 and any tendencyof *the platform and balls to jam has been eliminated. In the upposition, the balls 11 will roll down thechannels of the platform 84 tobe distributed by the switch box 81 as described in the followingparagraph. 7

The switch box 81 is unique in that it is divided-into five stalls bystationary separators 89 and in which the bases or floors 90 "are maderotatable above the stationary floors 93 as follows: front upright edgesof the separators 89 at the top'and through whicha rotatablyinserted'rod 91 is passed and to which the outer ends of the bases '90are fastened in any 'known manner. The rod 91 pivotally mounted throughthe sides of the housing is rotated by a handle member 92 suitablylocated on the side of the housing so that in the up position of thehandle 92 the balls rolling down the platform 84 will'have sufficientmomentum to fallobliquely onto the stationaryfloors 93 and thence to thechanneled lower deck 60 for delivery to the elbow pockets 16. In thedown position of the handle member 92, the balls fall back intothe'mixing drum and-in the intermediate position roll out on the upperdeck of the display box.

All other parts of the second form of the device are substantially thesame as described for corresponding members of the first form.

The operation'of the device of the second form is as follows: Supposethat five players are gathered around the device for a game of hearts.Each player selects one or" thenumbered channels of the display platformand the'operator shifts, if not already in position, the handlemember 92to the intermediate or up deal posi tion when the-platform 90 of thechannels will be aligned with the channels of the pivotally mountedplatform 84 in the up position and the channels of the display box 83.The balls are inserted in the drum in the manner previously describedfor the operation'under the first form;

Next, the operator rotates the drum counterclockwiseand clockwiseuntilthe balls are thoroughly mixed. In the down position ofthe drum,the pivotally mounted platform 84 tilts downwardly as shown in Figure 10and a ball is directed into each of the'five stalls of thecompartment'82 of the counting-trough 80. lln'the up position of thedrum the platform 84 moves inwardlyto pro- 'vide'a runway for theentrapped balls which by virtue of the force of the impact of thecoacting stops provided between the drum and housing and gravity rolldown the channels out onto the upper-deck or display'box where the'sameare held in position by the releasable gate mentioned-in the first formof the device. Whereupon the operator may compute the-numhe of hearts inthis first lot that'accrued to each player. Upon raising the releasablegate the ball-s will'roll into a separate container such as an ordinarysmall wooden box. Then a second set or lot of 25 or 27 balls may bedealt which enables the operator to compute the total score of each ofthe five players. The balls may then be returned or dumped into themixing drum as hereafter related.

In addition to the previously described games of poker and hearts, themachine provides for'the playing of many new and novelgames of solitairewhich-will afford entertainment and relaxation for permanently crippledand temporarily injured people. For example, suppose "the sole playerdeals 25 balls onto the display platform and to win-must deal: (1) aflush, four of a kind, a full house, or a straight into either one ofthe two middle rows that is the longitudinal row 3 (Fig. -1) ortransverse row C (Fig. 4); (2) nine balls into the two-middlerowswithout including an'ace, king, queen, orjack in the lot of 9 balls;(-3) five :of the thirteen diamonds into the two Aligned openings aremade in the a 7 middle rows; (4) one ace into each of the four outsiderows; and the like.

In still another form of switch box shown in Figures 11 through 14,which may replace either of the two previously described switch boxes,reference numeral 100 indicates the switch box, 101 the rotatablymounted drum, and 102 the display box with upper and lower decks.

The display box 102 is the same as the previously described display box,and the drum 101 may be either of the previously described forms.

The switch box 100 is constituted of a triangular support 103 secured atone end by any known means to one of theside members of the housing ofthe device and at the other end to the opposite side of the housing butspaced therefrom. On the side of the display box 102, the downwardlydeclined surface 104 of the triangular support 103 is divided into fivestalls or compartments by the spaced parallel separators 105 which arealigned with the channels of the lower deck of the display box 102,previously mentioned. At the top of the triangular member 103'are thepivotally mounted guides or doors 106 and 107, the guide 106 beingpivoted between the side of the housing by any known means 108 and theguide 107 by similar means 109. Channels are provided along the uppersurface portions of the guides for alignment with the delivery channelsof the drum and the channels of the display box as later shown.Pivotally mounted at one end of the pivotal mounting means 108 of theguide 106 in the space between the ends of the triangular support 103and the inner surface of the housing, is an actuating member 110equipped with the pins 111 and 112 protruding at a right angle to theplane of the member and which rotate and support the guides 106 and107,-respectfully, as follows: Slidable in the top of the actuatingmember 110 is the link 113 pivotally attached at the top to a handlemember 114, the opposite end of which (not shown) is pivotally attachedto the opposite side of the housing in any desired manner. Coacting withthe handle member 114 is a plate 115 disposed along the upper edge ofthe side of the housing and having along the top edge thereof the spacedopen slots 116, 117, and 118. 'By this construction, when the handlemember 114 is in the slot 117 (Fig. 12) the pins 111 and 112 maintainthe guides 106 and 107 outwardly and downwardly inclined and inalignment with the delivery channels of the drum 101 and the channels ofthe upper deck of the display box 102. When the handle member 114 is inthe slot 116 (Fig. 14), the channels of the guide 106 are aligned withthe delivery channels of the drum 101 but the guide 107 is rotatedupwardly by the pin 112 about the pivotal mounting means 109 and out ofthe way of the balls rolling over the guide 106 which then fall into thefive stalls along the inclined edge 104 of the triangular support 103 tobe directed into the channels of the lower deck of the display box 102.When the handle member 114 is in the slot 118, as shown in Figure 13,the guide 106 will i be rotated upwardly by the pin 111 about thepivotal mounting means 108 to provide a'gap between the drum 101 andswitch box 100 through which the balls will fall to the runway 119,transversely disposed between the sides of the housing, for return tothe mixing drum 101 in a manner previously described. The guides 106 and107 may be weighted so that when free to rotate, the direction ofrotation will be downwardly.

The operation of the switch box 100 is substantially the same as thatmentioned for the previously described forms thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for playing with balls games usually played with cards, saiddevice comprising a housing having an open front, a downwardly andoutwardly directed display box for the balls disposed in the open frontof the housing, said box comprising an upper deck, a lower deck andmeans maintaining said decks in spaced and substantially parallelarrangement, said decks having formed'on the top surfaces thereof aplurality of spaced and aligned longitudinalchannels, the outer end ofthe lower deck terminating interiorly of the outer end of the upper deckat a distance greater than the diameter of a ball; a mixing drum for theballs, said drum having a rim, an axis supporting said drum forsemi-rotation between a bottom position and a top position and viceversa, said drum being located in the opposite end of the housing, therim of the drum having inlet and outlet openings for the balls, theinlet being below the outlet when the inlet is in the bottom position, amulti-channeled drum platform disposed in the drum adjacent the outletthereof, a casing platform disposed in the housing and downwardly andinwardly inclined from a point adjacent the inner end of the lower deckof the display box, and a switch box pivotally disposed in the housingintermediate the outer end of the drum platform in the top positionthereof and the 'inner end of the display box, the switch box beingadapted in one position to direct the balls out of the channels of thedrum platform in the top position to the channels of the upper deck, andin a second position to the channels of the lower deck, and in a thirdposition to the casing platform for return to the drum.

2. A device for playing with balls games usually employing playing cardsaccording to claim 1 in which the switch box comprises a multi-channeledrunway, means for pivotally, securing the inner edge of the runway inthe casing adjacent the outer edge of the drum platform in the topposition thereof, and means for directing the balls from said runway tothe decks of the display box and to the casing platform, thelast-mentioned means comprising an upright member disposed on one sideof the runway in spaced parallel arrangement with the adjacent sidemember of the casing, the upright member and the adjacent side memberhaving coacting slots formed therein, the slot in the side member beingsubstantially horizontal and at to the slot in the upright member andfurther having formed along the lower edge thereof three spaced notches,a spiral spring for the housing, means for securing one end of thespring to the inner surface of the side member most remote from theupright memher, the free end of the spring being extendedsubstantiallytoward said upright member, a handle member for the freeend of the spring, one end of the handle member being slidably insertedin the free end of the spring, the

opposite end of the handle member being slidably inserted through thecoacting slots and coacting with the notches in the slot of the sidemember when the runway of the switch box is aligned with one of thedecks of the display box and the casing platform.

3. A device for playing with balls games usually em ploying playingcards according to claim 1, comprising means "for segregating balls inthe drum in the bottom position of the drum platform for the delivery ofone of the segregated balls to each channel of said platform in the topposition thereof, said means comprising a trough pivotally disposedtransversely of and adjacent the inner end of the drum platform, thetrough having formed therein a longitudinal opening greater than thediameter of a ball, means for dividing the trough transversely into aplurality of compartments, said compartments being adapted for alignmentwith the channels of the drum platform in the top position, weight meansfor maintaining the longitudinal opening in the trough upwardly directedin the bottom position, and means in the drum for directing the ballsinto the compartments of the upwardly dimediate the drum platform in theup position and the display box and with the base of the support alignedwith the lower deck, the side of the support adjacent the display boxbeing divided into a plurality of stalls aligned with the channels ofthe lower deck, a guide pivotally disposed at the top of the support andcoacting with the drum platform, a second guide pivotally disposedadjacent the inner end of the upper deck, the guides having channelsco-acting with the channels of the upper deck and the channels of theplatform, and means rotating either guide upwardly.

6. A device for playing with balls games usually employing playingcards, the device comprising a housing having an open front, adownwardly :and outwardly directed display box for the balls disposed inthe open front of the housing, said box comprising an upper deck and alower deck, means maintaining said decks in spaced and substantiallyparallel arrangement, said decks having formed on the top surfacesthereof a plurality of spaced and aligned longitudinal channels and theouter end of the lower deck terminating interiorly of the outer end ofthe upper deck at a distance greater than the diameter of a ball, elbowpockets removably disposed in the front of the housing below the outerend of the lower deck for receiving balls rolling through the channelsof the lower deck, means removably securing the balls in the channels ofthe upper deck, and means for tilting the outer end of the box upwardly;the device further comprising a mixing drum for the balls, said drumhaving a rim, an axis disposed in the opposite end of the housing andsupporting said drum for semi-rotation from a bottom position to a topposition and vice-versa, said rim being perpendicular to a verticalplane through the longitudinal center lines of the decks of the displaybox, the rim of the drum having formed therein an inlet and ran outletfor the balls, the inlet being below the outlet when the inlet is in thebottom position, a multi-channeled drum platform disposed in the drumadjacent the outlet thereof, stop means intermediate the drum and thehousing for maintaining said platform in the top position downwardlyinclined in the plane of the upper deck ofthe display box with thechannels of said platform aligned with the channels of the upper deck,means for segregating balls in the drum in the bottom position of thedrum platform for the delivery of one of the segregated balls to eachchannel of said platform in the top position thereof, a casing platformdisposed in the housing, said casing platform being downwardly andinwardly inclined from a point adjacent the inner end of the lower deckof the display box, and stop means intermediate the drum and the housingfor maintaining the drum inlet in the top position of the drum platformsubstantially aligned with the casing platform, and a switch boxpivotally disposed in the housing intermediate the outer end of the drumplatform in the top position thereof and the inner end of the displaybox, the switch box :being adapted in one position to direct the bailsout of the channels of the drum platform in the top position to thechannels of the upper deck and in a second position to the channels ofthe lower deck and in a third position to the casing platform for returnto the drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,334,093 Hickey Nov. 9, 1943 2,555,132 Hickey May 29, 1951

